Only Five Indian Vehicle Makers
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FIVE companies have been selected by the Government of India to manufacture vehicles. By 1956, at least 50 per cent. of the component parts used must be made in India. Import duties on component parts, says The Financial Times, have been reduced from an average of 65 per cent. to 40 per cent.
Hindustan Motors, who have a link with Nuffields and Studebaker, are to make, among other things, a mediumweight goods vehicle. Premier Automobiles, who ate allied to Dodge, and Automobile Products of India, who are associated with the Rootes Group, will also make medium-weight commercial vehicles. Ashok Motors, who are linked with Austin, will concentrate on the manufacture of heavy commercial vehicles. Standard Motor Products of India will make only a car.
Dewars of Calcutta, the French Motor Co., General Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra, Addison and Co., Ford Motors and the Peninsula Motor Co., who are at present assembling vehicles, will be liquidated within three years unless they turn to other work, such as the manufacture of parts for the five selected assembling concerns, or take up the servicing of vehicles.
Dewars and Mahindra and Mahindra will continue to assemble Land Rovers and Willys Overland Jeeps.